Well, that title’s actually a little misleading. Tommy Hutton is always pointing out basic things, when it comes to “how the game is played.” Basic, in this usage, means that it’s basic to baseball players, not basic to someone like me, who probably knows very little about playing (read: can’t play a lick of) baseball. However, Hutton rarely points out the basics of baseball statistical analysis, instead reverting to the mainstay of average/home runs/RBI’s as the extent of his analysis.
However, in last night’s broadcast, I was surprised and pleased to see Hutton and Rich Waltz praising Dan Uggla for his plate patience. Mainstream guys often get on people for their strikeouts, but Hutton and Waltz more or less refuted that claims that Uggla was having struggling season by pointing out that his OBP was pretty high and that his peripheral game was actually improving. On more than a few occassions those guys have also mentioned Uggla’s bad luck. I’m sure they don’t know how to put it in numerical terms, but they generally know that “things [weren't] falling for him.”
I think it’s a step forward for those two. If they could be more consistent with that sort of insight, which was basic for me and many of you who are reading me but not so much perhaps for the average fan and certainly for most of the mainstream media, it would drastically improve the quality of their broadcast.
Speaking of which, the last few weeks, I’ve been emailing those guys on Email Tuesdays and asking for on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS for the player graphics that they show for each first at-bat. I think asking for a slash line from them isn’t a huge deal, and it isn’t as if I’m asking to take away home runs and RBI’s (much as I’d love to have RBI’s gone). If you guys feel the same way, please email them and ask for slash lines and OPS on the player graphics. It’s not wOBA, but it certainly would help us evaluate players, and it wouldn’t take all that much space! Get on it everyone!
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Attn.: Tommy Hutton
Dear sir:
Since you have so much knowledge about baseball, I decided to ask for your opinion about the following:
Ref.:Theodore S. Williams (Ted Williams).
It is my believe as many others who love baseball that there is not any question that Ted Williams was “the greatest baseball hitter that ever lived”. However, I personally still have a question in regard of his lifetime batting average .344(?) as well as the famous 1941’s unforgettable .406(?). You may ask, why the question marks?
As we all know Ted Williams played major league baseball from 1939 to 1960, except 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to his active military service. On 1940 MLB reinstated the sacrifice fly rule in which it was counted as time at bat (AB). This rule prevailed until 1954 (13 seasons). Well, if you deduct Ted’s at bats due to the present and still valid sacrifice fly rule, as per my calculations, his real life batting average would be .346 instead the recorded .344, and his memorable .406 of 1941 should be .408 instead.
Your valuable comments will be appreciated.
Tommy, as many others I am one of those frustrated baseball players, however, today at my 75 years I follow MLB with passion as my first sport. Also, let me sincerely congratulate you and your partners for so great job in the Marlins TV broadcast booth, as well as on the field.
Respectfully,
Jose Salgado
papelex@aol.com